Surfing Waves

Hey guys, so it's about time for me to downsize to another board. I've been surfing 5-7 days a week on an 8'6 long board, for 2 to 3 hour sessions each. I can do all the basic elements of surfing very well, and would like to progress with turns and stuff, without sacrificing too much paddle power or anything like that. My local shop has a 7'2 Rusty Yeti, and a 6'8 Torq mod fun. They also have a almond butter fire wire that's 6'6, but I feel like that may be too far of a jump. If it helps, I'm a male, 190lbs, 5'10, and surf waves that are usually around 2-3 or 4-5 feet.
Thanks, and also here are links to the boards! If you need anymore info let me know

http://www.rustysurfboards.com/yeti
http://www.torq-surfboards.com/fun-68.
https://shop.firewiresurfboards.com/products/everyday

Totally forgot to add, I've been surfing for about a year!

SquishedBean wrote:Hey guys, so it's about time for me to downsize to another board. I've been surfing 5-7 days a week on an 8'6 long board, for 2 to 3 hour sessions each. I can do all the basic elements of surfing very well, and would like to progress with turns and stuff, without sacrificing too much paddle power or anything like that. My local shop has a 7'2 Rusty Yeti, and a 6'8 Torq mod fun. They also have a almond butter fire wire that's 6'6, but I feel like that may be too far of a jump. If it helps, I'm a male, 190lbs, 5'10, and surf waves that are usually around 2-3 or 4-5 feet.
Thanks, and also here are links to the boards! If you need anymore info let me know

http://www.rustysurfboards.com/yeti
http://www.torq-surfboards.com/fun-68.
https://shop.firewiresurfboards.com/products/everyday

I'm curious, Squished, when you say you want to progress with turns and stuff , what can you actually do in your surfing, as turn are an essential part of your basic skill set.
You certainly have the water time to learn from what you have told us but unless you are well skilled at 190kgs you will lose paddle power.
The number of people who think longer boards cannot turn is amazing but in most cases it is a relatively unskilled surfer who wants to go shorter because they then might be able to turn.
8'6" is a pretty good size to develop your skill further and then go down. I would suggest you try if you can any or all of your preferences list and see how they perform for you.
I you don't get the performance nature is telling you to stay longer for longer.

If you can not already maneuver/turn consistently front AND backside, I wouldn't go more than a foot drop. So a 7'6" - 7'10" Funboard would be nice. It should have a more pulled in nose and tail. Going to a 7'2" is almost losing a foot and a half. That's just too much. 6'6" ? That even more than a 2 foot jump.

That Yeti is a nice board but would surf smaller than a 7'2" fun board which like WKK recommends (actually recommends larger than that) is going to be a better choice. You'll be unstable and scrub a lot of speed on the yeti, failing to make sections or even keep up with the wave as you are learning. It will make surfing less fun and more frustrating than if you went with a fun shape of a larger size. It's the difference between popping up and making a bottom turn into the flats and being able to make the wave and get a nice ride. Yeti would be a nice third board.

Haha I see I wasn't too clear on all that I can do after a year of surfing, my mistake! I can paddle out easily, catch waves and pop up with ease, handle the drops, and do simple left and right bottom turns.

jaffa1949 wrote:

SquishedBean wrote:Hey guys, so it's about time for me to downsize to another board. I've been surfing 5-7 days a week on an 8'6 long board, for 2 to 3 hour sessions each. I can do all the basic elements of surfing very well, and would like to progress with turns and stuff, without sacrificing too much paddle power or anything like that. My local shop has a 7'2 Rusty Yeti, and a 6'8 Torq mod fun. They also have a almond butter fire wire that's 6'6, but I feel like that may be too far of a jump. If it helps, I'm a male, 190lbs, 5'10, and surf waves that are usually around 2-3 or 4-5 feet.
Thanks, and also here are links to the boards! If you need anymore info let me know

http://www.rustysurfboards.com/yeti
http://www.torq-surfboards.com/fun-68.
https://shop.firewiresurfboards.com/products/everyday

I'm curious, Squished, when you say you want to progress with turns and stuff , what can you actually do in your surfing, as turn are an essential part of your basic skill set.
You certainly have the water time to learn from what you have told us but unless you are well skilled at 190kgs you will lose paddle power.
The number of people who think longer boards cannot turn is amazing but in most cases it is a relatively unskilled surfer who wants to go shorter because they then might be able to turn.
8'6" is a pretty good size to develop your skill further and then go down. I would suggest you try if you can any or all of your preferences list and see how they perform for you.
I you don't get the performance nature is telling you to stay longer for longer.

With my current longboard I can totally turn left and right no problem, and ride from rail to rail. The main reasons to want to move down is because I know I'm ready for something a little shorter in the 7 foot range, I have a few friends that would want to learn on my 8'6, and I'm just tired of my board taking up several seats in my car and carrying it down apartment stairs.

We hear so often about people who went too short on their next board. It seems like we never hear about someone who feels they should have dropped down more in size. 2 feet is a huge change and will present an incredibly steep learning curve. I would say the odds are if you don't drop more than a foot you will be able to handle the frustration of not being able to do the things you used to do with the longer board enough that you learn to use the shorter board.

waikikikichan wrote:If you can not already maneuver/turn consistently front AND backside, I wouldn't go more than a foot drop. So a 7'6" - 7'10" Funboard would be nice. It should have a more pulled in nose and tail. Going to a 7'2" is almost losing a foot and a half. That's just too much. 6'6" ? That even more than a 2 foot jump.

Would it help at all to say I borrowed my friends 6'6 shortboard a week ago and tried it out? I wasn't expecting to do great, but it went better than expected. I had no problem paddling out on it, and I was able to catch a handful of waves. Really the only problem I had with it was sitting comfortably on it in the lineup. While the whole experience went better than expected I don't think I'll drop 2 feet. So if I was able to ride that 6'6 with a low volume, wouldn't it make sense to grab the 7'2 board that's similar in dimensions to my 8'6?

SquishedBean wrote: So if I was able to ride that 6'6 with a low volume, wouldn't it make sense to grab the 7'2 board that's similar in dimensions to my 8'6?

You were able to "ride" the 6'6", but were you able to "surf" it ?
You are looking for people to validate the decision you have already made up in your mind. We have gave you sound advice not to go too small, but in the end it's up to you. Soooo............. just get the 7'2" and go surf. If it works, great. Then in a few months, you'll move to the 6'6". If you find the 7'2" too hard and frustrating, then go back and work on your technique and get back on it later. It's not the end of the world if the board doesn't work out.

Surfing is about individual choices, if you think a board of any dimensions will be your next one. Try to try 0ne first !
Like it get it , if not no!
Reap the benefits or problems it brings.
Based on your posts, advice is given, again your choice to do what you think. We cannot evaluate your surfing by your word of mouth So it is general purpose, some of our learners have gone straight to short boards and had the water time and ability to go that way , generally that is not common.

Other people make what we think are choices that make their progress difficult, absolutely their choice and their result.
It's a bit like take off on a good wave, you choose your line , you choose your paddle speed, you trust your choice in the board and your ability. The wave then shows you exactly how your choices fit.

Make your choice and paddle in and get the stoke of your new board.
There are some great experiences, first custom board ' where you commit your ideas to a shaper and the magic board comes home.
The first board you ever shape, lumpy and bumpy in profile but somehow it goes!

When everything comes together on a wave normally beyond your capabilities and you realise that you can do more.
You want a certain board, go get it . It is always your choice in the end.
The end!

waikikikichan wrote:

SquishedBean wrote: So if I was able to ride that 6'6 with a low volume, wouldn't it make sense to grab the 7'2 board that's similar in dimensions to my 8'6?

You were able to "ride" the 6'6", but were you able to "surf" it ?
You are looking for people to validate the decision you have already made up in your mind. We have gave you sound advice not to go too small, but in the end it's up to you. Soooo............. just get the 7'2" and go surf. If it works, great. Then in a few months, you'll move to the 6'6". If you find the 7'2" too hard and frustrating, then go back and work on your technique and get back on it later. It's not the end of the world if the board doesn't work out.

I was using ride and surf synonymous, but yeah surf. I wasn't looking for approval of my board decision, just some thoughts and opinions, or even some other recommendations. Which I totally got all and I'm thankful for that! So thank you

jaffa1949 wrote:Surfing is about individual choices, if you think a board of any dimensions will be your next one. Try to try 0ne first !
Like it get it , if not no!
Reap the benefits or problems it brings.
Based on your posts, advice is given, again your choice to do what you think. We cannot evaluate your surfing by your word of mouth So it is general purpose, some of our learners have gone straight to short boards and had the water time and ability to go that way , generally that is not common.

Other people make what we think are choices that make their progress difficult, absolutely their choice and their result.
It's a bit like take off on a good wave, you choose your line , you choose your paddle speed, you trust your choice in the board and your ability. The wave then shows you exactly how your choices fit.

Make your choice and paddle in and get the stoke of your new board.
There are some great experiences, first custom board ' where you commit your ideas to a shaper and the magic board comes home.
The first board you ever shape, lumpy and bumpy in profile but somehow it goes!

When everything comes together on a wave normally beyond your capabilities and you realise that you can do more.
You want a certain board, go get it . It is always your choice in the end.
The end!

All that makes total sense! By the end of the day all that matters is how stoked I am to try out a new board, and if it works then that just adds on! So thank you, I'll have to do a bit more thought into my next board, but for the most part I think I'm settled.

I learned on a 6'10 . I'm 85kg and surfed on weekends only. I came from skateboarding so i could turn almost instantly, but catching waves was hard when the surf was pumping. 1 year of long-boarding, you should be good to go. I reckon learn to surf on the short-board. You can do maneuvers on a short-board that long-boards just cant do and vice versa. Grab a short board with lots of volume, and you will learn to surf it in no time if you surf that often. i'd guess 40L's for your body weight depending on your fitness. Chzur!!

Oneodone, the guy is twice your weight, you featured one major problem and the root of why we advise people to stay long until they get a set of skills. CATCHING WAVES if you cannot do that easily everyth9ng else is difficult. You found it difficult to catch waves when it was pumping, ( that is a go figure) You also mention that you can do manoeuvres on short boards that you cannot on long. Have a look at the top longboarders there is nothing they cannot do..
The advising crew are pretty keen to get learners the best progress as quickly as possible.
Please read the full thread to follow why we advise what we do!

He's 190lbs Jaffa, not 190kg.

If he were 190kg then he'd need one shortboard for each butt cheek!

I think you should just buy it and adopt the attitude that you're not a one trick pony surfer. If the waves are small, pull out your longboard or your fish. Grab your performance board when the conditions are right and you feel like working on skills. Take out your favorite when you want something familiar. If you surf a lot, then I think having a few board options just makes it more fun. You can start thinking about what board will best fit the conditions you're going out in.

Lebowski wrote:He's 190lbs Jaffa, not 190kg.

If he were 190kg then he'd need one shortboard for each butt cheek!

crushed

I went from a 9'2 down to a 6'9 and am flying. Yes it is Alot harder to paddle out back, catch waves but I think it has helped a lot with getting into the right place etc.

I could do a good bottom turn and I could get another turn in if the wave was right but I couldn't get my head around moving around the board and turning so I felt a longboard was holding me back.

I got my 6'9 and on the 1st day I knew I made the right choice. I started catching waves immediately and could turn it so easy.

I have still got my longboard and did intend to keep using it if I couldn't get on with my short board and maybe just alternate them but now my short board is my go to board as long as the waves are above 2-3 ft.

This is my board.

http://fourthsurfboards.com/portfolio-i ... bean-2016/

Millsy isn't it great when the board finally chooses you. You must have been ready for it
The advice we give is so people can get their skills ready to be chosen, then it becomes a great relationship!
But rush into something before you are ready ..... usual a sad match.